Flashlight

ABSTRACT

A flashlight including a bulb and an electric power source preferably in the form of a battery of series-connected cells within a casing having a cover, one terminal of the battery being in permanent electric connection with the center contact stud of the bulb of the flashlight via a resilient blade welded or soldered to the metal can of one of the cells which can constitute said terminal of the battery. The second terminal of the battery constituted by the center stud of another of the series-connected cells is connectable at will to the base of the bulb by deformation of a second resilient blade through the agency of a movable control means. In order to insure accurate positioning of the second blade and reliability of contact of one of its extremities with the said cell center stud on appropriate movement of the control means and reliability of contact of the other extremity of said second blade with the base of the bulb, the second resilient blade is fastened securely and permanently to an inner surface of the cover so as to position and provide proper location of the two extremities relative to said cell stud and bulb base.

United States Patent Nau [451 Sept. 11,1973

Filed:

FLASHLIGHT Inventor: Gilbert Nau, Chatellerault,France Assignee: A societe des iicc uniiilateurs Fixes i Et De Traction.(S0ciete Anonyme) Oct. 12,'1971 Foreign Application Priority Data France 7136667 US. Cl 240/10.6 R, 240/10.65, 240/10.67 Int. Cl. F21! 15/06 Field of Search 240/6.4 R, 10.6 R,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Beavis.....

Newberg....

Berg et al ;240/6 .4 R

Primary ExaminerJoseph F. Peters, Jr.

Attorney-Francis T. Carr and Theodore Ordman v et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A flashlight including a bulb and an electric power source preferably in the form of a battery of seriesconnected cells within a casing having a cover, one terminal of the battery being in permanent electric connection with the center contact stud of the bulb of the flashlight viaa resilient blade welded or soldered to the metal can of one of the cells which can constitute said terminal of the battery. The second terminal of the battery constituted by the center stud of another of the series-connected cells is connectable at will to the base of the bulb by deformation of a second resilient blade through the agency of a movable control means. In order to insure accurate positioning of the second blade and reliability of contact of one of its extremities with the said cell center stud on appropriate movement of the control means and reliability of contact of the other extremity of said second blade with the base of the bulb, the second resilient blade is fastened securely and permanently to an inner surface of the cover so as to position and provide proper location of the two extremities relative to said cell stud and bulb base.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures r I FLASHLIGHT RELATED APPLICATIONS A related application entitled Pocket Flashlights" Ser. No. 225,484, filed Feb. 11, 1972 whose applicants are Antonio Bigliardo and Elie Sennelier is now abandoned.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention relates to flashlights of the type comprising an electric power source such as a dry cell or an electric battery of series-connected cells and an electric bulb assembled in a common sealed housing emtion with the conductive base of the bulb and the other extremity of said second'blade isapplicable by movement at will of a control means into contact with the ing application, the battery comprises a plurality of series-connected cells so disposed that the second tenninal of the battery against which an extremity of the second metal blade is caused to be applied for completion of the current circuit through the bulb is the center stud constituting the positive pole of one of the said cells. The second blade is integral with asmall metal plate secured to a throat in the cover which supports the base of the bulb.

A delicate problem to be solved with such flashlights has been found to be the need for reliability of the contact to'be effected between the said extremity of the said second metal blade and the said positive stud of said one of the cells.

Indeed, in view of the small size of this stud,it has been found that if the small metal plate: of which the second metal blade is part is inaccurately positioned about the throat in the cover or that the arching or bending of the various parts of the second blade is done poorly or inaccurately that reliable circuit-closing contact between the said stud and the saidextremity of said second blade can fail to be effected satisfactorily. Thus, there is likelihood of failure of illumination, or irregular or weak illumination of the bulb.

Thus, such an arrangement requires very high precision in assembly and furthermore requires the prior fastening, for instance, by soldering or welding of an elastic contact blade to the can of a cell. It also requires separate manufacture of thesmall metal plate and second blade integral therewith followed by proper installation of the metal plate in proper position on the throat and in secure contact with the base of the bulb;

An object and feature of the present invention is to effect simplification of manufacturing and assembly operations in the production of flashlights and also to render it possible to eliminate need for detached parts such as the small plate of the aforesaid co-pending application.

Another object and feature of the invention is the provision of a flashlight comprising a casing including a cover provided with a receptacle for a bulb, an electric power source such as a battery positioned within said casing,a first terminal of which is in permanent .electrical contact with the center stud of the bulb and including also an elastic and conductive blade that is in electric contact with the base of the bulb and an extremity of which under the effect of a movable control means may be'shifted into accurate reliable contact with the second terminal of the power source, and wherein further, fastening means are provided for maintaining the said-blade secured against a bearing surface within said casing situated in proximity to the said bulb receptacle.

In a preferred embodiment, the said fastening means constitutes an integral part of the said casing.

In a first particular embodiment, the said fastening means comprise at least one rivet-like element projecting from the said bearing surface through a hole provided in the blade and headed over in rivet-like manner over the surface of the blade opposite that which is applied against the said bearing surface to maintain the blade secured to said surface.

According to another embodiment, the said fastening means may comprise at least one rivet traversing the blade and secured to the cover portion of which the bearing surface is apart.

According to another variant, the said rivet may be replaced by a screw.

Preferably, the bearing surface includes at least along one side an upstanding edge which is engaged by at least one edge of the blade to prevent rotation of the blade after its attachment on said bearing surface.

In another embodiment, the said fastening means are provided by upstanding parallel edges at opposite sides of the bearing surface that subsequent to positioning of the blade or said surface are bent back or turned over .at least in part over the surface of the blade opposite that which has been applied against the .said bearing surface, thereby providing the said fastening means.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the casing comprises a container anda cover, the said bearing surface being provided in the cover.

Other objects, features and characteristics of the in vention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments presented as non-limitative samples in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a flashlight embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 2-'-2 of FIG. 1 showing only the blade and that part of the cover to which it is fastened, and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 of a modified embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, the flashlight comprises a container .1 of suitable plastic material surrounding three cylindrical cells 2, 3 and 4 electrically connected in series by wires W and W respectively in order to form a battery. p

The usual center stud 5 of a bulb 6 is electrically connected to the metal can of the cell 2 via a springy metal blade 7 secured in electrical contact with said can, which latter serves as the negative terminal of the battery.

A cover 8 of plastic material similar to that of said container is mounted on and sealingly secured to the container 1 in order to provide the sealed flashlight casing. This cover has a concave upper wall 9 which in its region ofmaximum depth has an opening 9. An inwardly extending tubular throat 10 preferably integral with the wall 9 of the cover 8 is provided at the opening 9'. The inner wall of this throat might be threaded to receive and support therein the conductive base 11 of the bulb 6. In addition, the wall of throat l0 internally of the cover and below wall 9 has a longitudinally exand opens into it. A pin-like projection 15 extends outwardly of flat surface 13. In the embodiment shown in FIG.2, this pin-like projection is integral with and of the same material as thickened wall portion 9" of cover 8. It may, however, be replaced by arivet or screw or other equivalent fastening members.

A second resilient blade 16 is provided for completing an electric circuit between the base 11 of the bulb and the second terminal of the battery which terminal as shown in FIG. 1 is stud 17 of cell 4. This blade.16 is of springy conductive metal and provided in its length with a number of portions bent at different angles relative to each other. The blade is shown in FIG. 1 in solid line representing its off condition when no current flows and in dotted line representing its on condition when the electric circuit is complete and the bulb 6 is illuminated.

In the solid line position illustrated by said figure, the electrical connection between the base 11 and the stud 17 of the cell 4, forming the positive and second terminal of the battery is open because extremity 18 of blade 16 then is spaced from said stud 17. Upon movement of the control member 19 of conventional type located in cover 8 from its full line off position as seen in said FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrow F, to the dotted line on" position, its nose 19' engages portions of the blade 16 and deforms it so that its extremity 18 is then moved into contact with the stud 17, thereby closing the electric circuit to the bulb 6 via said blade 16 and causing its illumination. On reverse movement of control member 19, the resiliency bias of blade 16 restores it to the full line off" position of FIG. 1 extinguishing bulb 6.

The extremity 21 of the blade 16 that lies in contact with the base 11 of the bulb includes a transverse ribbing 22 which projects through notch or slot 10' of throat 10 into engagement with conductive base 11 beportion 23 of blade 16 is admeasured so that when said portion is mounted on said flat surface it fits between ribs 14. The pin-like projection 15 extending from surface 19 then projects through a hole 24 provided in the portion 23 of the blade and is headed in rivet-like fashion at 25 to secure the blade 16 in position on flat surface 13. The headed pin-like projection 15 and ribs 14 then hold the blade 16 securely in position and against rotation with ribbing 22 in effective electrical contact with base 11.

As an alternative as is illustrated in FIG. 3, the ribs 14a are folded over in rivet-like fashion at 14b to overliethe side edges of the flat portion 23a of the blade 16a to effect fastening of said blade 16a in position on flat surface 13a. This arrangement eliminates the need for pin-like projection 15 and hole 24 required in the first embodiment described above.

As further alternative (not shown) the pin-like projection 15 can be replaced by a rivet or a screw. Likewise, the ribs 14 or 14a can be eliminated by the use of two spaced-apart pin-like projections 15 or a similar number of rivets or screws instead of said ribs.

The various portions of resilient metal blade 16 which are bent at'differingangles relative to each other include a portion 26 adjoining flat portion 23 which is bent upwardly relative to said portion 23. A portion 27 adjoining the portion 26 is bent downwardly relative to portion 26. The nose 19 of control member 19 rests on the uppermost surface of this portion 27 in the off position as seen in full line in FIG. 1. A portion 28 directly adjoining the portion 27 is bent downwardly relative to portion 27. A further bent portion 29 directly adjoins portion 28. Movement of control member 19 in the direction of arrow F- to its dotted line position causes nose 19' to slide overthe surface of portion 28 into engagement with the step-like surface provided by tween a pair of its. threads to provide a reliable and steady electrical contact with the base 11 and also to effect a locking of the bulb 6 in position in throat 10.

The blade 16 comprises adjacent its extremity 21' a flat portion 23 substantially perpendicular to the portion forming extremity 21. The rear surface of flat portion 23 in assembly is in contact with the flat surface 13 of the thickened portion 9" of cover 8. The width of portion 29 so that when control element 19 reaches its dotted line on position, the blade 16 will have been shifted from its full line position to the dotted line position as seen in FIG. lat which time the extremity 18 of said blade 16 will have been shifted into positive surface engagement and reliable and intimate contact with center stud 17 of 'cell 4 establishing the on condition and illumination of bulb 6 of the flashlight. The successive bent portions 30 and 31 beyond portion 29 terminate in the extremity 18 whose flat surface provides large area for reliable contact with the surface of stud 17. t

On reverse movement of the control element 19 to restore it to the full line position of FIG. 1, the resiliency bias of spring blade 16 causes its restoration to the full line condition of FIG. 1 with separation of extremity 18 from stud 17 thus breaking the circuit to the bulb and extinguishing it. Similar results occur if blade 16a described with reference to FIG. 3 is utilized in lieu of blade 16 of FIG. 2.

Chief advantages resulting from the practice of this invention are a reduction in the number of parts required to manufacture the flashlight as well as a simplification in assembly procedure. As a result, such flashlights are easier to manufacture and mush less costly.

There is no intention, therefore, of limitation to the exact disclosure herein presented.

ductive base, a bulb receiving tubular socket forming an integral part of said cover, a metallic member connected conductively to one terminal of said source and lying in electric contact with said center contact stud of said bulb, when the latter is mounted in said socket, a resilient metallic blade, a flat support surface portion for said blade on and within said cover adjacent to said socket, said socket having a notch in its length exposing a portion of said base and said flat surface portion lying adjacent to said notch, said resilient blade having an extremity projecting through said notch into electrical contact with the said portion of said base for maintaining said bulb securely in said socket, and also having a portion adjoining said extremity mounted on said flat surface portion, fastening means at said flat surface portion for securing said blade to said support means and preventing rotation thereof, said resilient blade havingits other extremity overlying but normally out of contact with a second terminal of said source, said other extremity being movable in opposition to the resiliency bias of said blade into and out of circuit-closing condition with said second terminal of said source, and movable control means mounted on said cover and engaging said blade for effecting such movement thereof.

2. In a flashlight according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises means projecting from said flat portion and engaging said blade.

3. In a flashlight according to claim 2, the means projecting from said flat portion being a headed pin-like member.

4. In a flashlight according to claim 2, the means projecting from said flat portion being ribs extending from said flat portion.

5. In a flashlight according to claim 2, the means projecting from said flat portion being turned-over ribs.

6. In a flashlight according to claim 1, said flat portion including a rib along an edge thereof in contact with at least one side of said blade.

7. In a flashlight according to claim 1, said support surface portion being integral with said cover and including a thickened wall portion on which said flat surface portion is provided. 

1. In a flashlight of the type comprising a source of electric power and a bulb within a casing containing said source and including a cover secured to said casing, said bulb having a center contact stud aNd a conductive base, a bulb receiving tubular socket forming an integral part of said cover, a metallic member connected conductively to one terminal of said source and lying in electric contact with said center contact stud of said bulb, when the latter is mounted in said socket, a resilient metallic blade, a flat support surface portion for said blade on and within said cover adjacent to said socket, said socket having a notch in its length exposing a portion of said base and said flat surface portion lying adjacent to said notch, said resilient blade having an extremity projecting through said notch into electrical contact with the said portion of said base for maintaining said bulb securely in said socket, and also having a portion adjoining said extremity mounted on said flat surface portion, fastening means at said flat surface portion for securing said blade to said support means and preventing rotation thereof, said resilient blade having its other extremity overlying but normally out of contact with a second terminal of said source, said other extremity being movable in opposition to the resiliency bias of said blade into and out of circuit-closing condition with said second terminal of said source, and movable control means mounted on said cover and engaging said blade for effecting such movement thereof.
 2. In a flashlight according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises means projecting from said flat portion and engaging said blade.
 3. In a flashlight according to claim 2, the means projecting from said flat portion being a headed pin-like member.
 4. In a flashlight according to claim 2, the means projecting from said flat portion being ribs extending from said flat portion.
 5. In a flashlight according to claim 2, the means projecting from said flat portion being turned-over ribs.
 6. In a flashlight according to claim 1, said flat portion including a rib along an edge thereof in contact with at least one side of said blade.
 7. In a flashlight according to claim 1, said support surface portion being integral with said cover and including a thickened wall portion on which said flat surface portion is provided. 